CH

101 Summer 2020 – Discussion Worksheet 1 McQuarrie Chapter: 1 (Dimensional Analysis)

Name: ________________________________________ TF Name: __________________________________

Large Group Discussion

1. Convert the following reported values into units of grams (g): a. 1.5 kg b. 1.5 mg

2. The “Freshman 15” is the phenomenon that first-year college students
gain an average of 15 pounds during their first year of college. Assume
that the freshman 15 is stored as the fatty acid α-linolenic acid (on the right, C18H30O2). Burning a pound of α-
linolenic acid produces 4.00 × 106 J (joules) of energy. How much energy (in J) will the freshman 15 produce? Start
by setting up the problem (including units), but do not solve it.

Small Group Problem Solving

1. [McQuarrie 1–11] Arrange the following quantities in order of increasing length: (a) 100 nm, (b) 1.0 km,
(c) 1.0 × 103 cm, (d) 100 pm, (e) 1.00 × 103 nm, and (f) 1000 m.

2. [McQuarrie 1–39] How many minutes does it take for light to travel from the sun to the earth, given that the sun is
about 93 million miles from the earth? 1 mile = 1.6 km.

3. Continuing our discussion of the “Freshman 15” (question 2 in the large group discussion).
a. One gallon of gasoline (C8H18) produces 120. × 106 J of energy. How much energy (in J) will it take to send a
Toyota Camry exactly 1.0 mile? The average Toyota Camry has a fuel efficiency of 25 mpg (miles per gallon).

[Think. Share. Discuss with your group!] What information are you given in the problem? What are you asked to
find? What should you start the problem with writing? Discuss in your group and write down only the thing that
you need to start the dimensional analysis.

[Follow-up.] Once you and your instructor agree with how to start the dimensional analysis, proceed to write
down the remainder of the dimensional analysis. Once your group agrees on the full dimensional analysis (with
units included), solve for the numerical solution.

b. Last year, a student came into the course weighing 110.3 pounds. At the end of the semester, their weight was
measured at 126 pounds. Assume the gained weight is due to α-linolenic acid. How many miles would the Camry
go if, instead of gasoline, you burned the α-linolenic acid that the student had formed by the end of the semester?

4. On a distant planet, tungsten is considered to be the most precious element. On this planet, the only source of
tungsten is from the ocean. The ocean water on this planet has a tungsten concentration of 5.0 × 10–9 g/L. The
density of tungsten is 25 g/mL. How many tungsten bars (10. cm by 10. cm by 5.0 cm) could be made from
5.0 × 1012 L of ocean water from this planet? Start by setting up the problem completely before you solve.

5. [McQuarrie 1–20] If a rock climber accidentally drops a 56-gram piton (climbing spike) from a height of 373 meters,
what would its speed before striking the ground? Assume that there is no air resistance.

[Think. Share. Check-in.] Start by stepping up the problem (including units). Don’t solve. No calculators until the
problem is fully set up! Only then, solve for the numerical solution.

6. [McQuarrie 1–21] A pole vaulter with a mass of 75 kg is running at a speed of 9.2 m·s-1 at the takeoff point. What
height can this person clear if all this kinetic energy is directed vertically?

[Think. Share.] Start by setting up the problem (including units). Then, solve for the numerical solution.
Name the following compounds: (a) O CH3
7. [McQuarrie 2–31] The caffeine molecule is depicted to the right.
(a) NO2 (b) NH3
a. To determine the molecular weight from a structure, first write the condensed formula for H3C
N
C
C
N
CH
(c) ZnS (d) K 2O
the molecule. Make sure that everyone in your group got the same formula.
C C N
b. Calculate the molecular mass of caffeine to five significant figures (lines represent bonds
Name the following compounds: O N
between adjacent atoms). (a) BaH2 (b) Li2S CH3
c. Calculate the mass percentages of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen in caffeine.
(c) BeO (d) CH 4 caffeine

(b)
H
1
HO C CH2 NH CH3
Calculate the molecular mass for each of the
C
following oxides to five significant figures: HC CH